Jessica Burstrem
- Gender: Female
- Astrological Sign: Libra
- Industry: Education
- Occupation: Graduate Student/Teacher
- Location: Casa Grande : Arizona : United States
- Wishlist
About Me
I earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature from University of Michigan in 2003 and an M.A. in English and a Graduate Certificate in Women's Studies from University of Florida in 2006. I am currently a Ph.D. student in English Literature at the University of Arizona, where I am also a Graduate Associate, responsible for teaching undergraduate English courses. My academic interests are 20th century and contemporary American literature, feminism, mothering, minority studies, and popular culture. I plan to expand on my Master's thesis, on feminist mothering of sons and negative representations of mothers of sons in popular American movies, for my dissertation.
Your pajamas have duckies on them. Why did you switch from choo-choos?
To be different. My son's probably have "choo-choos" on them. And we wouldn't want to get our jammies confused either....
Interests
Favorite Movies
- I appreciate all kinds of movies. The key to a good movie for me is really how realistic its ending seems
- which is often a deal-breaker. Thus I tend to prefer independent films
- documentaries
- movies with sequels (because the endings don't attempt to artificially tie up all of the loose ends)
- and silly comedies that make no attempt to be realistic. Movies with negative representations of mothers tire and frustrate me (and
- simultaneously
- fuel my work). The BBC version of Jane Austen's PRIDE AND PREJUDICE has always been a favorite.
Favorite Music
- As in most things
- I can find something to value and enjoy in all kinds of music. My music collection includes over 500 albums ranging - both alphabetically and musically - from Bryan Adams and the Bloodhound Gang to Frank Zappa and Rob Zombie. (My favorite artist settings on my XM Radio are Beethoven
- the Coasters
- Elvis Presley
- Jim Croce
- CCR
- Queen
- Billy Joel
- Elton John
- Metallica
- Aerosmith
- Bon Jovi
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Green Day
- Lenny Kravitz
- Gorillaz
- Eminem
- Maroon 5
- BNL
- Brad Paisley
- and Jeff Foxworthy.) As in most areas of my life
- I also especially enjoy anything outside the mainstream - for instance: Yat-kha
- Ravi Shankar
- electric violin. I used to play classical music on the piano and cello myself
- but now I'm afraid that I just don't have the time.
Favorite Books
- Since I read for work
- I don't tend to think about books as fun most of the time. My favorite fiction authors - those whose work I always enjoy - would have to include Jane Austen
- Zora Neale Hurston
- and Barry Eisler. I have only written professionally on one of them.
My Blogs |
Team Members |
| Thoughts from a Feminist Mother |
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